Coolest tech products of 2010

This year has been a remarkable one for technology. We've seen the introduction of 3D technology products for the home, Apple's revolutionary iPad was launched and Microsoft unleashed the next generation of gaming.

Here's our selection of the very best gadgets from 2010 that are vying for your disposable income.

 1. Apple iPad

Apple's tablet computer, whether you love the idea or not, has changed the way we think of computers.

Breaking into the spotlight at the beginning of the year, the 10-inch tablet computer runs the same operating system as the Apple iPhone, allows you to play games, surf the Internet, watch movies, and download hundreds of thousands of apps. It has dominated tech websites throughout the year, while at the same time creating a market that didn't exist 12 months ago.

Now the competition, having seen its success (3 million sales and counting), are quickly following suit with tablet computers of their own. Samsung, Toshiba, RIM, and HP have all since announced products that are either already available, or coming very soon, but so far none have been able to touch the iconic Apple device.

Apple's success has not been because it is the first to market, but because the iPad is incredibly easy to use, appeals aesthetically to those Apple looks to tease into buying it, and ultimately because it's just a cool product that most find they buy not for a rational need, but because of a more irrational urge.

That's right, it's an emotional luxury product that can be your in-flight entertainment, your reading book, your games console, as well as your email and Internet friend.  Yes, you might already have a smartphone, and yes, you might already have a laptop; both equally versed in doing the same job considerably better, but this will make you want to share the web and technology, rather than just looking like a geek with a laptop when your friends come around for dinner.

RRP £429

2. Canon EOS 550D

In the short space of time that the Digital SLR camera has been around, we've seen massive leaps in their capabilities, perhaps best exemplified by the Canon 550D, the company's entry level camera introduced in February.

The Canon EOS 550D, successor to the EOS 500D prosumer DSLR, received significant upgrades to several features in 2010, but most notably the sensor, movie shooting options, and metering have all seen a bump in specs.

This means you get an 18-megapixel sensor for snapping pictures, ISO settings from 100 to 6400, a 9-point autofocus, with an extra-sensitive cross-type point in the middle for very fast lenses, and 3.7fps continuous shooting, if you hold down the shutter button. You also get 1920 x 1080p full HD movie support at 30, 25 and 24fps, allowing you to record high-def video, and a bigger screen to view it on round the back.

In fact, you end up getting a similar spec to Canon’s more powerful EOS 7D model, which costs almost twice as much – which makes the EOS 550D a steal, however you look at it. We think it's one of the best cameras of the year, and certainly a major contender for DSLR model of the year.

While it remains to be seen if the DSLR will be able to hold off the onslaught of hybrid cameras in 2011 from companies like Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung and Sony, for now, if you are a photography enthusiast and you are looking for a camera to upgrade to, you can't really go wrong with the Canon EOS 550D.

RRP £899.99

3. Microsoft Kinect

It's not that often you get to see a technology that might actually be mistaken for magic, but that's the reaction many people have when they see Microsoft Kinect in action for the first time.

Kinect is new system for the Xbox 360 that entirely removes the controller from videogames; you become the controller, entirely eliminating the need to learn confusing button combos, or how to waggle two thumbsticks at the same time.

It is expected to open up whole new genres of games, and a whole new way of playing them, giving new life and a new audience to the Microsoft games console.

The Kinect technology works by using two cameras and a microphone in front of the console to track your movements and voice, and then relay those movements back to the console and the games you are playing.

That means if you are playing a yoga game, you've actually got to achieve the right yoga position to do well; if you are playing a racing game, then you have to pretend to hold a steering wheel to steer the car.

You see - we told you it sounded like magic! But it's not just the concept of the technology that works, some of the games already available or being demoed make this one of the top gadgets of 2010.

Favourites so far include ‘Fighters Uncaged’, a fighting game that will have you sweating - yes, really sweating -  in front of your TV, and ‘Kinectimals’, a game where you get to make friends with a tiger that lives inside your television - a great one for the kids.

RRP£200

 

4. Amazon Kindle

The Amazon Kindle e-book reader has been around for some time, but the latest model makes it so affordable that even if you don't read that much it's probably still worth getting.

Actually, there were two variations of the new model in 2010 - a WiFi-only version, and one that includes 3G connectivity, so you can buy and download books wherever you are in the world. 21 per cent smaller, 15 per cent lighter, with 50 per cent better contrast, 20 per cent faster page turns, up to one-month of battery life, and twice as much storage – now up to 3500 books at a time – you can see why we like them.

But it's not just the new, thinner, lighter, smaller profile that we like, but also the cost: the UK versions are priced at £109 and £149, respectively.

Combine that killer price with: the ease of getting books on to it without the need for a computer; the built-in features (like instant dictionary definitions of unfamiliar words), and a viewer that lets you change the font size to make it easier to read, and you'll struggle for reasons not to zip over to Amazon and buy one sharpish.

It might be a closed system, but this is electronic book reading at its easiest, and in the end that's what we like - services, technology and gadgets that are not only easy to use, but make a real difference in your life. The Amazon Kindle is one of those gadgets.

RRP £109

5. Vodafone Mobile broadband Wi-Fi

Vodafone have been at the forefront of mobile broadband for a number of years, allowing workers who find themselves out of the office to still get online.  But as users start to shift away from laptops and netbooks, and towards smartphones and tablets, they need to have mobile broadband hardware that can connect to numerous different devices, many of which won’t have a USB socket to plug into - yes we are thinking the iPad and other tablets here.

In steps the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi, a small battery-powered white box of tricks the size of a bar of soap. It allows you to create a mobile wi-fi hotspot wherever you are, and connect your laptop, netbook, tablet and phone to it all at the same time, without either getting the device out of your bag, or even plugging anything in.

It's great, not only because it allows you to surf the Internet on the go, but because it connects to any wi-fi capable device you own. That means no software to install, no battery power to drain, and no hassle. All that's left for you to do is enjoy super fast Internet connectivity (provided you are in coverage).

Like the 3 Mi-Fi before it, the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi will change the way mobile workers work. The final advantage over other options available is that you benefit from Vodafone's excellent national coverage and infrastructure. Add that to its hassle-free operation, and we think it's one of the best gadgets of 2010.

RRP Free with 18 month £25 a month contract

6. Sky 3D

By now you probably already have an HD-ready television, and if you've got Sky, Virgin Media, or Freeview HD, then there are a range of HD channels from sports, to movies, to the BBC, that you've probably been enjoying.

But HD is so 2009. What you want for 2010 is Sky 3D, the satellite broadcaster's 3D service that it hopes will change the way we watch television - by adding another dimension.

Launched in October 2010, Sky’s service is the first to offer viewers 3D content to their home as a regular daily channel you can watch anytime, as long as you have a 3D-enabled television. They’ve effectively saved you from having to buy a dedicated Blu-ray 3D player, and searching shops for 3D films (there really aren't that many to buy right now).

The service is just a few weeks old, but is already showing us what’s possible, as long as you are prepared to sit on your sofa wearing a pair of 3D glasses.

Whether it's the latest blockbuster movies, football matches, documentaries, boxing, rugby, arts or nature, Sky is creating and showing over 14 hours of 3D content every day to showcase the new technology.

If you are one of the top tier Sky customers paying £61.50 a month (that also gives you over 50 HD Channels) then the real sweetener is that the 3D channel is free; all you need is a 3D television to watch it on, and you can embrace the new technology from the comfort of your sofa.

RRP Free with Sky top tier package

7. HTC Legend

For many the phone of the year is the HTC Desire, the company's other Android-powered smartphone, and flagship model for most of 2010. However for us, we love the design, price, and hidden power of the HTC Legend instead.

With a case fashioned from a single piece of metal that had been hollowed out like a piece of art, the HTC Legend showed not only what HTC, as a company, was capable of, but also the future possibilities of cutting-edge phone design.

Following the Legend’s February debut, many more HTC handsets appeared over the course of the next 10 months - the Desire HD, Desire Z, the 7 Mozart and the HD7 - and most echoed the striking design ethos of that metal casing structure.

HTC will tell you it’s all about the hidden strength within, and nothing shows that more than a metal phone that doesn't have reception signal problems! Add to that the powerful punch it packs when it comes to running apps, getting email, playing games, surfing the Internet, and, of course, making phone calls, and you've got a cracking smartphone package.

Better still, the phone is affordably priced in the UK, allowing customers to buy a beautiful handset, a great operating system (Android, along with HTC’s Sense UI) and a superb phone without breaking the bank.

We love it.

RRP Free with 2 year £25 a month contract

8. Philips 3D Cinema 21:9 Platinum

Of the hundreds of televisions from companies like Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic and LG that impressed us in 2010, the one that had the real wow factor was the Philips 3D Cinema 21:9 Platinum.
It's the 3D version of the company's Cinema 21:9 display that was first launched in 2009, and brings with it enhanced picture quality as well as 3D capabilities.

The Philips 3D Cinema 21:9 Platinum will set you back £4000, but for that you get a 21:9 aspect ratio, so movies in the 2.39:1 format (think Star Wars and other classics) completely fill the screen - no ‘letterbox’ black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.

The 2010 Cinema 21:9 model has received a comprehensive performance upgrade, adding more picture quality innovations to the already award-winning Philips 9000 series, including Direct lit LED screen illumination, a 400Hz refresh rate, and the Perfect Pixel HD Engine that optimally matches each pixel’s colour, packaged in an even larger 58-inch Full HD screen in 21:9 aspect ratio.
The TV also comes with three-sided Ambilight Spectra, which creates an ambient glow around the screen that matches the onscreen image, and is claimed to immerse you far more thoroughly in whatever you’re watching.

As long as you've got the room in your lounge, you're pretty much bringing the cinema, as the name suggests, into your living room. And while it could be said this beast isn't really designed for watching your everyday episodes of EastEnders or Corrie, when it comes to watching 3D movies you'll struggle to beat it.

Now, where's the popcorn?

RRP £4000

9. Spotify for Sonos

If you like music, you probably already love Spotify, the service that lets you stream millions of tracks over the Internet to your computer or smartphone, for just a tenner per month.
In September, Sonos, makers of an ingenious multi-room music system, announced that it was adding support for the Spotify music service, bringing the massive streaming music library into the living room properly for the first time.

While Spotify has long been available for free on your computer, and for a premium payment on your mobile phone, the service has effectively been stuck in the self–contained world of laptops and iPhones. Neither is the ideal medium to bang out the latest tunes in your lounge.

Sonos’ amazing wireless, multi-room, music distribution system had already been wowing users with its seamless ability to pick up music from a PC or iPod’s digital library, and then play it anywhere in your home. By adding Spotify‘s ability to deliver virtually any track you can think of at the press of the button,  Sonos puts a endless global jukebox into every room in your home.

We aren't overstating it when we say it will potentially change how you listen to music forever, and save you a fortune in the process: you no longer need to buy and store tracks to listen to them on your hifi - now you can just stream whatever you want, whenever you want.

The only small catch is that you'll need to have a Spotify Premium account to get the service. However, at just £9.99 (less than the cost of a single CD album) per month this shouldn’t be a great hardship if you love your music.

RRP Spotify Premium service £9.99 per month; Sonos S5 music system £320

 

10. Boxee Box

Your brand new state-of-the-art television is, whether you like it or not, dumb. But all that's about to change. A whole host of new devices are appearing that allow you to take full advantage of all the digital content you find on the Internet.

Now you can listen to music, watch TV shows, and enjoy movies on your television, all controlled from your phone (it's your new remote).

The most hyped device so far is probably the Apple TV. However, while it pushes the boundaries of streaming, and offers a very good ‘rental’ service for TV shows and movies, it hasn’t impressed us as much in 2010 as our new favourite media centre: the Boxee Box.

The Boxee Box, built in association with D-Link, is one of the best of the new breed of ‘set-top’ boxes, allowing you to stream content, to watch off a hard drive, surf the Internet, catch up with friends, and do a whole host of other things without having to have a PC around to enjoy it.
Where the device really succeeds though, is that there is app support and plenty of apps either available or in the making.  British owners can get services like the BBC iPlayer for example, while Americans get Hulu, among others.

The interface is friendly and easy to use, and it’s also available in exactly the same format on your computer, so you experience the same familiar controls when you are away from your television. Basically, it's your new home cinema interface, whether you are on the go, or on the sofa.

RRP £199.99"

Well, that's all for this year, join us again for next year's awesome tech roundup!

OAP poisoned police with sandwiches

"A pensioner whose sandwiches poisoned 47 police officers has been given a suspended jail sentence and ordered to obey a one-month night-time curfew.

Food safety officials said 70-year-old Muriel Morris received a four-month jail term, suspended for a year, and was ordered to pay £16,482.70p in costs.

Birmingham City Council, which prosecuted Morris for four breaches of food hygiene law, launched an investigation into the poisoning outbreak after nine officers were taken to hospital during an English Defence League demonstration near New Street station in July 2009.

The city's magistrates' court heard that tests conducted on the sandwiches established they had been provided by Morris, of Dorrington Green, Great Barr, Birmingham.

Morris pleaded guilty to four offences relating to the Meal Machine cafe in Nechells, which she no longer runs.
An investigation by the council's food safety team established that officers were given sandwiches provided by Meal Machine at three briefings during the EDL protest and a counter-demonstration.

A West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed that 47 officers experienced the effects of sickness, with several requiring hospital treatment for dehydration.

"Contingency planning measures were implemented to ensure that normal policing business could continue as the protest came to an end," the spokesman said.

Commenting on the prosecution, Neil Eustace, chairman of Birmingham's Public Protection Committee, said officers had been left extremely ill by the serious offences.

"Environmental health officers were rightly appalled by the lack of regard for the health of customers shown by Ms Morris and moved quickly to shut the premises," he said"

NASA finds new form of life... on Earth

Bacteria that thrive on arsenic have been scooped from a California lake, a discovery that redefines the building blocks of life and offers new hope in the search for other organisms on Earth and beyond.

Not only do the bacteria survive, they grow by swapping phosphorus for arsenic in their DNA and cell membranes, said the study funded by the US space agency NASA and published Thursday in the journal Science.

The findings add a new dimension to what biologists consider the necessary elements for life, currently viewed as six elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.

"What we've found is a microbe doing something new -- building parts of itself out of arsenic," said scientist Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a fellow in NASA's astrobiology program who made the groundbreaking discovery at Mono Lake in eastern California.

"There's an organism on Earth doing something different," said Wolfe-Simon. "We've cracked open the door to what's possible for life elsewhere in the universe. And that's profound."

Ariel Anbar, a co-author of the study, explained how Wolfe-Simon was able to get the bacteria known as strain GFAJ-1 of the Halomonadaceae family of Gamoproteobacteria to grow under extreme toxic conditions in the lab.

"She takes this sediment, puts it in a bottle essentially where there is lots of arsenic and very little phosphorus, and she does it over and over so only organisms that are going to be happy in that environment survive," said Anbar.

"The organism came from nature," said Anbar, a scientist at Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration. "It is a known bacteria. It is not a brand new bug but nobody realized it could do this," he said.

Scientists have known for some time that some microbes can use arsenic for energy, much like humans do with oxygen or food.

"The way I like to put it is they smoke it but they don't inhale it," said Paul Davies, a co-author of the paper and British-born cosmologist at Arizona State University.

"So the big question we all wanted to know was where has the arsenic gone? Is the arsenic really in their innards?

"Eventually, bit by bit, the evidence accumulated that indeed the arsenic was in the DNA, the proteins, the lipid membranes and the metabolites, so it was everywhere where it is important."

A few years ago, Wolfe-Simon, Anbar and Davies began discussing the idea that different life forms could exist on Earth but by biological rules unlike ours, a notion known informally by scientists as "weird life."

The trio published in 2009 their hypothesis that arsenic, which is directly below phosphorus on the periodic table, could substitute for phosphorus in Earth life forms.

"We conjectured that maybe life started via the arsenic route and phosphorus was the later adaptation," said Davies, noting that they still are not sure which came first, or if this bacteria could be "like a living fossil, a hangover from an earlier arsenic epoch."

But the discovery has made him think about all the forms of life out there that scientists may have missed.

"This is going to open up a whole new line of inquiry. First of all this can't be the only arsenic organism on the planet, there is going to a be lot more, so this is a whole new domain of microbiology that it represents," said Davies.

"Who knows what else is out there if we take a harder look?"

The findings, leaked early in a vague but intriguing announcement by NASA that mentioned "extraterrestrial life," lit up the blogosphere and stunned many scientists.

Arizona State University professor James Elser said he has spent years telling students that phosphorus was a necessary part of DNA.

"The idea that I am sitting here today discussing the idea that this is not true is shocking," said Elser, a panelist at a NASA press conference on the discovery.

Caleb Scharf, a Columbia University astrobiologist, told The New York Times he was amazed.

"It's like if you or I morphed into fully functioning cyborgs after being thrown into a room of electronic scrap with nothing to eat," he said.

NASA has conducted numerous probes at eastern California's Mono Lake, an unusually salty body of water with high arsenic and mineral levels, as it is likely to reflect conditions under which early life evolved on Earth, or perhaps Mars.

"Sometimes you think something is not going to work, but then you go looking for it and sometimes you may find it," said Anbar.

"And then you realize, oh, I didn't understand things quite as well as I thought I did before. And that happens all the time in science. That's part of what makes it fun.""

Strange rules of the road

"The current Highway Code was updated in 2007 to take into account the rigours of modern driving - traffic gridlock, environmental awareness and increasing reliance on modern technology.
It means the ever-present book, which reportedly still sells around one million copies per year, is an unusual mix of old and new. Here are a few of the stranger things you'll read in the Highway Code.

Rule: Mobility scooters must not travel faster than 4mph
The Code stipulates that powered wheelchairs must not exceed 4mph on pavements - about walking pace for the average man. So, if you're overtaken by a sweet old lady in a wheelchair or mobility scooter, she's probably breaking the law. There's every chance her vehicle is a Class 3 - in which case its 8mph top speed means it should be driving on the road, according to the Code. Tell her to hit the highway!

Rule: Keep sheep under control at all times
Yes, the section for animal herding remains. Law 58 requests that the law-abiding animal herder send a friend along the road in front of him, whose specific job it is to warn people there's some herding going on. This is particularly true when approaching a bend or on the brow of a hill, says the Code.

Rule: Circle your arm to turn left
Arm signals are covered for occasions when your indicators aren't working, though only three remain. A straight arm out means you're turning right, but circle that arm anti-clockwise and you're turning left. Flap it up and down when you want to stop. Funnily enough there's no recommended hand gesture for 'that was some inconsiderate driving there, sir.'

Rule: Look after the environment
Stopping for more than 'a couple of minutes'? Then switch the engine off to reduce emissions and noise pollution, says the Code. It is legal to keep the engine running when faults are being diagnosed (assuming you're not there because you've conked out) but if you're just running the engine to keep the car warm, forget it - the ozone layer is more important than the possibility of you catching a cold, OK?"

Rules of the road - lines you can and cannot park on

"Finding a space in a town centre is a job in itself and avoiding rip-off multi-storey car parks is a must if you want to save cash.

But where you can leave your car and for how long can be confusing - and cheeky traffic wardens dine out on your bewilderment.

The Government has announced that new legislation will come into force in November to ban clamping on private land, so drivers can breathe a small sigh of relief, but there's still plenty of ambiguity about parking in public areas.

Just how long can you leave your car on a single yellow line for, and what does a red route really mean? We've scoured the Highway Code to reveal the facts so you don't have to find out the hard way.



Yellow lines
It's common knowledge that double yellow lines alongside a kerb mean no waiting at any time, but in some cases there are signs nearby indicating that you can park there at certain times of the day or year, so it's worth a look if you're desperate.

Single yellow lines are where the biggest source of ambiguity lies. According to the Highway Code, single yellows should be accompanied by a sign that displays when you can and can't park there. It's usually a case of no parking at peak times (i.e. between 8am and 6pm), but check the sign to be sure.



Red routes
Double and single red lines are a common sight on London's congested roads. Parking, unloading or even stopping for a second to let a passenger out are all strictly prohibited on roads with these along the side.
In a similar vein to a single yellow, a single red line will have a nearby sign that shows the times when the enforcements are more relaxed. Double reds should be avoided at all costs and at all times. The only exceptions to the rules are for licensed taxis and blue badge holders.



Loading

If you need to park for a short period of time to load or unload the boot then look for yellow marks on the kerb. Two yellow marks mean no loading at any time, while one yellow mark means that you can load at certain times. Both markings should also have nearby signs that tell you whether and when you can stop to load there.

Specific loading bays are marked in white with the words LOADING ONLY displayed on the ground alongside the bay, so parking and walking away is not allowed. A white sign with a blue 'loading only' symbol will also be displayed nearby.



Other road markings

White zigzag lines mean you're near a zebra crossing and stopping on them is out of the question as you may obstruct the view of pedestrians crossing the road. The same goes for yellow zigzag lines outside a school, which are usually accompanied by the words SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR in yellow.

Bus lanes and bus stops should be avoided for obvious reasons, and cameras to keep them free of anything but buses and taxis are now widespread, particularly in cities. A criss-cross yellow box means that you can't stop for any reason as you may obstruct other traffic and yellow box cameras are now very popular with city councils.

Some parking spaces are reserved for specific vehicles like doctors' cars or vehicles that belong to nearby businesses - such spaces are always marked, either on the road itself or with signs and, while you may or may not be fined for leaving your car in them, you'll almost certainly leave the locals a little peeved, which is never a good move.

If you're still unsure then check out the Government's motoring guidelines on:

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring."

-20C warning as snow chaos spreads

"The big freeze gripping the country will get worse this week, with snow spreading inland and some temperatures plunging as low as minus 20C, forecasters have warned.

There is no sign of a let-up in the wintry weather, with bitter winds increasing and more parts of the UK facing snow in the coming days. The RAC warned of a "difficult" Monday commute and told drivers to consider other options.

As well as disruption to the roads, schools were closed in many areas, including central Scotland and Yorkshire.

In Cornwall, 44 schools were closed because of the weather, with another 12 opening later, Cornwall Council said.

The cold spell saw record low temperatures in some parts of the country over the weekend, with both Wales and Northern Ireland recording the coldest November night since records began.
Coldest overnight in the UK was Altnaharra in northern Scotland, which recorded a low of minus 16.1C (3F). Llysdinam, which saw Wales's chilliest ever November reading on Sunday at minus 18C (minus 0.4F), was a bit warmer today at minus 12.9C (8.8F).

So far, Scotland and the North East have been worst hit by snow, with more than 40cm in parts, and police have advised people to stay indoors for all but essential travel. Several airports were disrupted on Sunday, with Edinburgh closed due to heavy snow, Aberdeen suffering delays and Newcastle International, Luton and Jersey also seeing disruption.

Forecasters warned the rest of the country is likely to be blanketed this week as the weather front moves west. The severe conditions could also last well into next week, with rain, sleet and snow.

The Arctic conditions have been caused by a combination of light winds, snow cover and clear skies - and could see readings down to minus 20C in Scotland later this week. The UK's lowest ever recorded temperature in November was minus 23.3C recorded in Braemar, in the Scottish Highlands, on November 14, 1919.

A spokesman for the AA said they had received 7,500 breakdown calls by 10am - more than the double the normal number. Drivers should be prepared when they set out, he warned, with warm clothing in case of a breakdown, accident or road closures."

OAP Loses £80k After Leaving It On Car Roof

"A pensioner who does not trust banks claims to have lost his life savings of £80,000 - by leaving it on the roof of his car and driving off.

The man from Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend, put a bag containing the cash on top of the vehicle as he was moving the money to his place of work.

As soon as he realised what had happened he began a search with his grandson but they could find only the bags the notes had been in.

The 68-year-old, who does not want to be named, is said to have saved £2,000 every year during his working life and kept the money under a bed while he had a guard dog.
When the dog died he kept the money close by him.

The man would take the money from his bedroom and put it in the car when he went to work.
"My car is never more than 10ft from me at work so I can keep an eye on it," he told Mail Online.

"That morning I left at about 6.20am and didn't realise I had lost it until noon.
"I went home and checked my bedroom in case I had left it there."

The man has offered a reward for the return of the cash.

Essex Police confirmed they are investigating a possible theft after a man contacted them on Friday, November 19, "reporting he had lost £80,000 in cash".

"He told police he had accidentally left the money on the top of his car before driving off on the morning of Thursday, November 18 at 6.20am," said a spokeswoman. "He later realised what he had done."
The man said the money was in an orange plastic bag inside a blue pull-string bag.

Some evidence found at the scene will be inspected for fingerprints and officers have checked local CCTV cameras.

Anyone who may have found the money is asked to hand it to their local police station or risk being accused of 'theft by finding', the spokeswoman added."